“Qualquer maneira de amor vale a pena”: histórias de homossexuais e suas vivências familiares.

Abstract

Often prejudice and exclusionary behavior towards homosexuals arises within the family itself. For some parents it is difficult to accept the homosexuality of their children and often, they prefer to believe that it is a phase of experiences and discoveries, to face naturally. The family environment, which should be considered as favorable and welcoming, is now seen as an unfavorable and repressive environment for many homosexuals. The objective of this study was to understand the experience of homosexuals in family dynamics and their support networks. It is a research of qualitative approach of the descriptive, exploratory type, backed by the Oral History method. In narrating their story, each participant revived experiences, recalled situations of pain and overcoming, allowing a rescue of memories in a liberating way, tracing new meanings to continue fighting for respect and equality. After reporting repressive situations, some narrators have shown strong emotions and discontent that they are not accepted by certain family members just because they do not conform to the heteronormative pattern imposed by society. To better understand these family experiences, the analysis of the narratives made it possible to elaborate two main thematic axes: 1) Between oppression and freedom: pain and overcoming in the face of the revelation of homosexuality within the family context; 2) Support networks and coping strategies: what is at the end of the rainbow? Based on the analysis of the narratives, there were subjective excerpts that indicated difficulties in the acceptance among the relatives, and in some reports the existence of violence and repression after the revelation of homosexuality for the family became clear. Other forms of resistance in the acceptance of homosexuality within the family context were identified in the participants' reports, such as the fact that some relatives chose to silence and in some cases did not allow the exposure of the relative's homosexuality to the society. This study also revealed that support groups formed from friendship relations favor confronting prejudice with more optimism and provide the homosexual with certainty that he is not alone, which provides the necessary force to continue the struggle Against prejudice. The collaborators affirm in their reports the importance of personal and professional growth as a way to obtain family and social respect, using financial independence as a strategy to conquer their autonomy and their space in society. Despite the difficulty in acceptance and violence experienced by some deponents being constant within the family's breasts, the family also tends to act as a provider of affection, care and protection. Thus, it is believed that this study will contribute to the expansion of the knowledge about the subject and will facilitate the understanding regarding the different forms of sexual orientation and gender identity.